HyperDrive is passionate about crafting digital experiences that look great and make a real impact. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce the launch of a new website for Media Burn Independent Video Archive, a truly unique organization dedicated to the vital work of video preservation. It was incredibly rewarding to collaborate on this project, working closely with both the visionary team at Media Burn and our fantastic design partners at Ink & Craft to bring this important digital archive to life.
Who is Media Burn and Why Does Video Preservation Matter?
Media Burn is more than just an archive; it is the guardian of history, preserving a vast collection of independent video that captures moments, movements, and voices often overlooked by mainstream media. With over 10,000 and growing, its mission is to collect, restore, and make these invaluable visual records accessible, ensuring that future generations can learn from and engage with our shared past.
A New Vision for Video Exploration
Our objective for the new Media Burn website was clear: to transform the user experience into something dynamic, engaging, and deeply personal. We wanted to move beyond a traditional archive format and create a Browse experience that felt more like a social platform, encouraging visitors to explore new content weekly and discover hidden gems within their expansive collection.
To achieve this, we leveraged our expertise in WordPress development to create a robust and flexible foundation for the site. We integrated with Media Burn’s existing data of user-generated videos and historical information. A significant part of our work involved converting all of their older, gathered, and tagged data from their SQL database into an actionable format. This upgrade now enables sophisticated segmentation and sorting options, allowing visitors to curate their own personalized video viewing preferences and explore topics of interest in greater depth.
Seamless Integration for a Richer Experience
Beyond the user-facing improvements, we focused on building a scalable and efficient backend. We integrated Vimeo and YouTube for seamless video playback, ensuring high-quality viewing experiences across all devices. To measure the impact of these changes and continuously optimize the site, we implemented comprehensive Google Analytics tracking. This allows Media Burn to understand user behavior, identify popular content, and make data-driven decisions to further enhance the platform.
The HyperDrive Difference
Our work not only showcases Media Burn’s invaluable archive but also empowers them to connect with a wider audience and continue their crucial work of preserving history, one video at a time.
We invite you to explore the new Media Burn website and experience the future of video archiving for yourself!